It was a good run.

When I started this blog, a few years ago, it was a mish mash of sports opinions, pop culture stuff, and gratuitous pictures of women (from all accounts the best part of the blog based off what I've been told.) It took on more of a Wild-based focus because that's where my passion was, I had opinions and insight, and well, the gal I was seeing at the time wasn't terribly impressed with the fact that I was putting up gratuitous pictures of scantily clad women (which in a sense makes that the most popular and least popular segment of the blog. Funny how a beautiful woman is so polarizing...) I've had the fortune of seeing this blog get mentioned on and contribute to Puck Daddy, being able to be the Minnesota Wild "spokesperson" for the New York Times "Slap Shot" blog, being seen on the blog rolls of high profile hockey blogs, amongst other things.
I never really anticipated that there would be that much "exposure" (for the lack of a better term) for this silly little janky Wild blog, but hey I'll take it. I'll never be convinced I had a huge good-sized some following, but who knows right?
However I've reached the point in this little hobby where I find my thoughts and opinions being reduced to one or two sentences, which means there isn't much content for whoever may read this- I wasn't really one for game recaps (and I've seen blogs that essentially recap EVERY SHIFT of the game) and so when I tried to make my content more insight/opinion based, it makes it pretty bare bones when all I got is two sentences for you.
So I think its time to give it up really...it was a good run.

Quickly though...a few parting thoughts.

- I thought this last Draft was really well done: Mikael Granlund was the smartest player in the Draft, the most imaginative playmaker, plays an all-around game, and had the most pro experience out of anyone in this year's class. I've seen some grumbling about passing over Brandon Gormley and Cam Fowler, but I feel that Granlund would contribute more as a forward than either of the D would. Johan Larsson and Brett Bulmer were guys who really hit the upswing toward the end of the year (Redline Report loved these guys), and I really like the Jason Zucker pick; if you, as a Draft table, feel that Zucker is your guy and there's a discernible fall off in talent after him, go get him. I've heard the Swedish goalie was underrated, and I know little about the last guy we took. All in all, we've added talent and depth to a thin cupboard, including 2 guys who could really take off in Larsson and Bulmer.
- Free Agency- Cullen fit a need, and serves as a nice stop gap until a guy like Granlund or Cody Almond is ready to take over and contribute. He's a three zone guy, a character guy, and has playoff experience. Eric Nystrom brings some jam to the lineup, which means that Chuck Fletcher thought we were butter soft last year. Part of being hard to play against means physicality.
- Guillaume Latendresse resigns- great low-risk high reward deal. Gives The Tenderness some job security, but it also dangles the carrot in front of him with the lure of getting straight cash homey if he really produces. Think about having a 30 goal+ guy for the low price of 2.5 mil...
- Fletcher's in an interesting position...how can you overhaul a decent team on the fly without bottoming out? I think this is lost on some fans, that it can be done without being a perennial lottery team, but take into account with what he's got to work with in regards to assets- close to nil. Then the onus is on Todd Richards to make a constantly changing dynamic successful, because the full game plan roster wise ideally won't be in place for another year or so. Can we make the playoffs? Sure...remember you don't have to be a "sexy" team on paper to get to the Cup. Get into the playoffs, and anything can happen.


On that note......I'm out. Stay gold ponyboy.

And with the 9th pick...

If you remember my conversation with Max Giese, I was sold on Granlund. I felt that it came down to the fact that he was nearly a point per game (would have been more if he didn't miss 15 games) as a 17 year old in the SM-Liiga men's league and he was unanimously labeled the smartest player in the Draft carried more weight than say, Jeff Skinner and his 70 goals (he went to Carolina at #7,) Alexander Burmistrov and his Anti-KHL sentiment, Etc.
Sure there's concerns about his skating and lack of explosiveness, but he's proven against men that he can produce at a high level against older and stronger competition regardless. Granted we may not see Granlund for another year, but for the first time in eons Minnesota fans have a forward prospect that not only we can be excited about, but looks to have the tools to make an impact on the scoresheet.